For Immediate Release: March 12, 2010

2010 Census Kicks Off Mailing of Questionnaires

10 Question Form Set to Arrive in 120 Million Mailboxes across Nation

(Long Island, N.Y.) Next week, the 2010 Census questionnaire will begin arriving in more than 120 million mailboxes across the nation. Mandated by the U.S. Constitution and conducted every 10 years, the census counts every man, woman and child, where they live and sleep most of the time. Mailing back the census form is the easiest way to participate in the 2010 Census, and every household should complete and mail back the form upon receipt.

Households served by the United States Postal Service will receive their forms in March 2010. Census workers will hand-deliver forms through April 2010 in all other areas. One of the shortest census forms in U.S. Census history, the 2010 Census form asks 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete.

Mailing back a form ensures an accurate count and lowers the cost of the 2010 Census by reducing the number of census workers who must go door-to-door to collect census data. It costs the government just 42 cents for a postage paid envelope when a household mails back the form. It costs the Census Bureau $57 to send a census taker door-to-door to follow up with each household that fails to respond. About $85 million is saved for every one percent increase in mail participation. Additionally, the Census Bureau saves $60-$70 per census form returned by mail. In 2000, the nation reversed a three-decade decline in mail rates, achieving a participation rate of 72 percent.

Now anyone can track the participation rates for any town, city, or the nation by visiting the Take 10 Map (http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/). Later this month, participation rates for the 2010 Census will be updated daily so communities can track performance and work to raise the rate.
People with questions about their census form may visit a Questionnaire Assistance Center or contact one of the following 2010 Census Toll-free help lines:

This site uses Facebook comments below to make it easy to leave a comment about this release. If you see a comment you would like to flag as spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right-hand corner. By commenting you agree to our Terms of Use.

Local press releases or news can be sent to: Select items may appear here as detailed in our terms of service. Long Island Exchange has a strict yet fair editorial policy. Due to the overwhelming number of releases we receive there is NO GUARANTEE your material will be published. News is reviewed on a first-come first-serve basis. Get notified about new releases as soon as it hits the wire by subscribing.